COLORADO FIREWORKS

ROCKIES 8, GIANTS 1

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is congratulated after hitting a three-run homer off San Francisco starting pitcher Chris Stratton during the fifth inning Tuesday night at Coors Field. The Rockies beat the Giants 8-1. . David Zalubowski, The Associated Press

The moment of doubt in Antonio Senzatela’s 2018 starting pitching debut arrived abruptly in the first inning Tuesday night, when the Giants put runners on the corners and Pablo Sandoval strolled to the dish.

But after Senzatela induced a Sandoval popout to end the threat, all doubt dissipated. The righthander settled in, shoving his way to seven total innings of shutout baseball while the offense — highlighted by home runs from Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon — ransacked Giants starter Chris Stratton.

The result was a decisive 81 win over San Francisco at Coors Field, putting Colorado (4343) in position for a momentumladen sweep Wednesday — a victory that, if achieved, would get the Rockies above .500 for the first time since June 8.

Blackmon got things going with his solo homer in the bottom of the first, and a few batters later Gerardo Parra’s single brought home Arenado to give Colorado an early 20 cushion for Senzatela, who was officially recalled from TripleA Albuquerque earlier in the day.

Colorado added to its tally in the third via Trevor Story’s RBI triple to score Carlos Gonzalez, but it was Arenado who delivered the big blow via his threerun blast in the fifth that extended the lead to 60.

With the swing, Arenado took sole possession of first place in the National League with 22 home runs and moved into a tie for the most RBIs with 63. And for those on the waytooearly Triple Crown watch, Arenado ranks fifth in average at .313. Cincinnati second baseman Scooter Gennett led the way at .334.

Also of note on a perfect July evening in LoDo, capped by the first of two nights of fireworks: Second baseman DJ LeMahieu pulled off multiple web gems, one on a groundball up the middle to take away a single and another on a leap in shallow right to snare a line drive.

And after two more insurance runs in the sixth via RBI knocks by LeMahieu and Blackmon, Mike Dunn, Jake McGee and Harrison Musgrave combined for the final six outs in front of a sellout crowd. Colorado has won five of its last six.

David Zalubowski, The Associated Press Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela acknowledges left fielder Gerardo Parra, who made a catch at the warning track on a ball hit by San Francisco’s Pablo Sandoval in the seventh inning Tuesday night. Senzatela gave up three hits and no runs in seven innings for the win.